Follow-up: No Click on starter - 4k (nonQ)

[Swann, Benjamin R. (BSWANN)]

This is just to follow thru on the starter problem I posted about last week.

It was hard to believe that the starter motor would just up and die, but
apparently that is what it did.

By using a heavy guage (#6) wire about 5" and bent into a U, I was able to
jumper the incoming hot wire on the solenoid to the post on the motor which
goes directly to the brush assembly.  This was after finding that by
applying voltage to the solenoid produced no click.  This all was
complicated by the poor access to the starter and the location of the car
not being in an easy place to do work with rain and mosquitoes.

After removing the motor(required removal of transmount first), I tested the
motor again.  Apparently it had been so shorted out that both starter and
solenoid were fused passing current directly to ground with no cranking.

A used starter was installed and the car started right away.

I have seen starters die slowly and give warning, but this one must have
decided to weld itself dead in short order, compounding my diagnosis.

Regards,

Ben Swann
'86 4k (non Q) - to be used as alternate transportation when I do the engine
swap on the '85 4KQ.  Right now it is more like the holdup in progress.

-----Original Message-----
From: Swann, Benjamin R. (BSWANN) 
Sent: Thursday, August 31, 2000 12:55 PM
To: 'Bill Elliott'; Swann, Benjamin R. (BSWANN)
Cc: 'quattro at audifans.com'
Subject: RE: No Click on starter


Bill,

Yes, a bad contact at the starter will keep it from cranking.  At this
point, however, the soenoid doesn't even click when 12 V is applid directly
from the battery.

The starting circuit is really no different than other cars, it just is hard
to get to the starter poles, which is what I was asking about.  

Folks this is not a Quattro, and the starter is much harder to access with
AC and trans mount in the way.

Thanks for all of the replies.  

Ben

-----Original Message-----
From: Bill Elliott [mailto:wcelliot at concentric.net]
Sent: Thursday, August 31, 2000 12:02 PM
To: BSWANN at arinc.com
Subject: No Click on starter


Ben:

My best guess is corrosion at the starter. Disconnect the battery,
disconnect both main wires at the solenoid (one is the battery bable,
the other runs to the starter motor itself), clean, coat with dielectric
grease, and reassemble.  I've had this happen numerous times in my 4kq
and UrQ's.  If the solenoid isn't getting battery power, then applying
power to the ignition terminal won't do anything.

That being said, I have successfully jumped my UrQ at the starter by
applying a jumper cable to the starter side of the solenoid. Not much
room (even less on the UrQ) but it can be done. However, this is quite
unsafe and I don't recommend it.

I also thought that I pulled the starter directly on my '84 4kq parts
car. I don't remember any unusual difficulties.

Good luck!
Bill Ellitt